Health clinics pop up in retailers

WASHINGTON – In recent years, health clinics have started popping up more frequently in retail stores like CVS and Safeway. The trend is likely here to stay, experts say.

The New York Times reports they grew by more than 10 percent in 2011. The chief executive of Merchant Medicine, which tracks the growth of retail medical care services, tells the Times that big players are taking advantage of the increase of people wanting more convenient health care.

In 2014, federal health legislation is set to bring broader coverage to millions of more Americans, the Times reports, and retailers are looking to win over those customers.

That’s the plan for CVS Caremark. It already has 650 “minute clinics” across the country and has said it’s going to double that in the next several years, according to the Times.

WTOP’s Darci Marchese contributed to this report.Follow Darci Marchese and WTOP on Twitter.